Hidden Gems: Local Businesses & Creatives You Should Know

Every day we have a choice. We can support an up and coming podcaster, try a new family-run restaurant, join a boutique gym started by a local fitness champ or we could keep giving away our money to the handful of giants who already control so much of our commerce. Our daily decisions impact the kind world we live in; if we want a world where small businesses are growing and artists and creatives are thriving then we should support them with our time, money and attention. We’re proud to highlight inspiring creatives and entrepreneurs each week in Hidden Gems series. Check out some of our latest local gem features below.

Haley Myers

I started Speech Me Therapy in 2022 when I (Haley Myers, M.S., CCC‑SLP) launched the practice with a vision of providing personalized, compassionate speech and language therapy for children. From the beginning, my focus has been on tailoring services to each child’s unique communication needs and working closely with families to support meaningful progress. Since then, the practice has grown and evolved. Read more>>

Kristine Foster

Most people involved with Hope On The Streets have experienced homelessness, hunger, and uncertainty, which sometimes resulted in difficult choices and prison. My husband Shane and I have been together since 2005, and we were both incarcerated in 2007. Shane served ten years and was released in 2017. It was my first felony, and I signed for fifteen years, serving fourteen. Read more>>

John Caliendo

I’ve been in the mortgage industry for over 20 years. Years ago I envisioned a platform where borrowers could apply for and process a mortgage on their own, with limited interruption and zero sales pressure. Today, eLoansUSA.com provides users that experience. Read more>>

Tatiana (Tia) Pushkina

Becoming a makeup artist has been my childhood dream ever since I watched TV shows about transforming women. I always loved doing makeup for my friends, and as soon as I finished high school, I applied to a beauty technology college. I’m originally from Siberia, and in my hometown there is one of the strongest educational colleges in Russia for training beauty professionals. Read more>>

David and Amber Hough

Our founder is a board-certified nurse practitioner whose journey into wellness medicine is deeply personal. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, an autoimmune condition—shortly after becoming certified as an aesthetic nurse injector. That experience profoundly changed how she viewed healthcare and wellness. Read more>>

Eryn Cloutier

While pursuing a medical track as an undergraduate at the University of Arizona, a single psychology course changed everything. I became deeply curious about the brain and the powerful ways it shapes mental health, behavior, and human experience. That curiosity ultimately redirected my path, leading me to graduate school in Texas, where I earned a master’s degree in clinical psychology. Read more>>

Kate Weed

Lucky Fish Marketing started from a pattern I saw again and again with local businesses: they don’t necessarily need more ideas – they need leadership. Read more>>

Bryce Petersen

The idea for Hydro Air Wellness was sparked by a personal health journey. Around 2005, My father, Kevin, rediscovered the joy of movement through use of a HydroWorx aquatic treadmill after years of health struggles. Ten years later, this experience, combined with my pursuit of a physical therapy doctorate and exposure to anti-gravity treadmills, ignited a shared vision. Read more>>

Dana Strickland

I didn’t take a straight or easy path to becoming a therapist. For a long time, I circled the idea before committing to it – wrestling with imposter syndrome, financial fear, and the very human question of whether I was “ready enough.” What ultimately moved me forward wasn’t certainty, but a quiet knowing that this work mattered to me in a deep, values-level way. Read more>>

Carlos Aguirre

My name is Carlos, my siblings and I started Don pancho’s in 1998 and all are family members got together and contributed to all aspects of the restaurant. Cooking, cleaning, baking bread ( when we had a bakery) We were very successful and created a staple in the maryvale neighborhood. Read more>>

Greg Bailey

I’m originally from New Zealand, but my path here wasn’t exactly linear. I spent a number of years living and working in London, and eventually my American wife and I decided it was time for a change. Read more>>

Richard ‘Chomps’ Thompson

My career has spanned live stage, voice over, film, and contemporary art installations. As a writer, I am still a Hearst poet at heart along with being a James Beard nominee – two accolades I am proud of holding during my years of furious writing editorials, short stories, poetry, and script work. Read more>>

John Kestner

I grew up in front of a TV or in a movie theater in Ohio and dropped out of college to move to Phoenix, Arizona in the 80’s. I’d always wanted to write and make films, but made a good living working in Nuclear Security. Read more>>

Vi Garza

Alex first approached me about this project in November 2024. At the time, I had only ever participated in student short films, and most of my acting experience came from the stage. However, Alex had such immense faith in me and encouraged me throughout the process. I learned so much working with him and am very proud of his finished work! Read more>>

Anthony DeMaio

After moving to Arizona from NJ where I was born and raised, I decided to startup Gold Nugget Electric LLC. I started the company with a foundation based on providing the highest quality service for every single job and every single client. Read more>>

Melissa Guerrero

Growing up, I was always surrounded by hairstylists. My dad has been a hairstylist for over 40 years and a salon owner for 37, so the salon was practically my second home. As a daddy’s girl, my dad has always been my rock. Even though he spent most of my childhood working long hours at the salon, he never stopped being my biggest inspiration. Read more>>

Donella Hedges, MS, LAC, NCC

My name is Donella and I am a first-generation, multiracial (Chinese, Filipino, Mexican, and Irish) mental health therapist serving the Arizona community. Although I am a California native, I have lived in Arizona for over a decade, a place that has deeply shaped both my personal and professional journey. Read more>>

Kalimah Jarrett

I started out in education in 2013 as a middle school teacher, and that experience shaped a lot of who I am. I loved working with people and making an impact, but I knew I wanted more freedom and did not want my life tied to one schedule forever. Before becoming an artist, I was actually a client myself, and that experience opened my eyes. Read more>>

Christine Enright

My husband, Dan and I, are both Portuguese. When we moved to Arizona, we realized there weren’t any Portuguese bakeries or restaurants. In February of 2024 we decided to open a bakery from home. We started setting up at our local Tractor Supply on weekends. Shortly after, Portuguese families throughout Arizona were driving up to see us each weekend. Read more>>

Alexi & Gregory Turk

At MMHC, our mission is deeply rooted in our unwavering commitment to transforming the healthcare landscape for the better. Founded by individuals who have experienced firsthand the challenges and complexities within the industry, we are driven by a shared vision to empower healthcare providers and patients to thrive in an environment that often seems stacked against them. Read more>>

Ty Smith

I was born and raised in East St. Louis, IL and joined the US Navy in 1996, immediately following high school. Since I was 12 years old, my dream had been to become a Navy SEAL. I spent the first 4.5 years of my naval career as a military police officer, and Italian translator in Sardinia, Italy. On Sept. Read more>>

Matthew Rood

I enlisted in the Navy on September 5th, 2001. I was in boot camp when the towers fell. During my initial tour the U.S. got involved in both Afghanistan and Iraq. The Army was in need of pilots so I put in a packet to become a Warrant Officer. Read more>>

Sue Tran

I started my journey with little more than determination and a belief that I could build something of my own. What began as a hands-on trade slowly evolved into a business built on discipline, resilience, and countless lessons learned the hard way. Along the way, I faced setbacks that tested my confidence and forced me to grow—not just as an entrepreneur, but as a person. Read more>>

Sheryl Keeme

I have always been a writer. My undergrad work was in journalism. Over the years, I have been a reporter, a communication director, a marketer, and a content creator. About 14 years ago, I learned more about self-publishing and have grown to enjoy helping others with all aspects of this. Read more>>

Ryan Beatty

I’m Ryan Beatty, CEO and Founder of Neuron Connect, a clinical practice dedicated to transforming brain health outcomes through advanced neurotechnology, qEEG brain mapping, and personalized neurofeedback therapy. Read more>>

Carly Santini

I didn’t originally plan on becoming an esthetician. I was actually in naturopathic medical school, and I started during COVID, when everything was online. Between the stress of online medical school and coming off birth control, my skin completely spiraled. I had never struggled with acne like that before, and it really shook my confidence. Read more>>

Kayla Amador

House of Amador didn’t begin as a business — it began as a feeling. I’ve always been drawn to moments: the way a room feels when you walk in, the way scent lingers after laughter, the way people remember how something made them feel long after the night is over. Read more>>

John Neibich

A Man Among Men — The Story of My Brother, John David Neibich My name is Joseph Neibich—filmmaker and storyteller, who also acts on camera and performs live under the stage name Joseph Nybyk. Most of my life as been spent wandering through worlds that exist only on the page as well as the occasional live performance. But this story isn’t fiction. Read more>>

Millie (Milagro) Kuolt

I have to start by saying my father will always be my biggest inspiration, he was an honest business man who touch the lives of many. Read more>>